Sarah El Haïry

In the early stages of Sarah El Haïry’s career, one word stands out: commitment. It was no coincidence that, in July 2020, she was appointed Secretary of State for Youth and Civic Engagement, becoming the youngest member of the French government at the time.

In this personal account, Sarah El Haïry opens up with modesty to explain her journey: her political awakening came in the wake of a terrorist attack in Morocco, prompting her early support for Nicolas Sarkozy, followed by François… Voir plus

In the early stages of Sarah El Haïry’s career, one word stands out: commitment. It was no coincidence that, in July 2020, she was appointed Secretary of State for Youth and Civic Engagement, becoming the youngest member of the French government at the time.

In this personal account, Sarah El Haïry opens up with modesty to explain her journey: her political awakening came in the wake of a terrorist attack in Morocco, prompting her early support for Nicolas Sarkozy, followed by François Bayrou. She later became a Member of Parliament, and ultimately a minister in Emmanuel Macron’s government.

What shines through most is her unwavering belief in the Republican, secular, anti-racist, egalitarian, and universalist values of France. She speaks candidly in defense of her French identity, which she firmly states is in no way contradicted by her Moroccan heritage. On the contrary — all parts of her identity coexist in harmony. She often recalls the deep “desire for France” that young people express in her conversations with them across the country.

Finally, Sarah El Haïry does not shy away from naming the threats facing the French Republic, against which she fights relentlessly: Islamism, an extremist ideology that distorts the Muslim world; but also far-right and far-left populism — the former riding a troubling momentum she is determined to confront, the latter becoming the outlet for growing frustration among segments of French youth. Voir moins

My reflection was to put forward proposals in favor of the many forms of generosity. Philanthropy is a powerful lever because donors are diverse in both their profiles and their means. We must care as much about the small donor as the major benefactor, so that a true culture of giving can permeate all levels of society.

I also strongly believe that philanthropy is emancipatory: giving is a free act that allows individuals to transcend themselves.

I structured my proposals around… Voir plus

My reflection was to put forward proposals in favor of the many forms of generosity. Philanthropy is a powerful lever because donors are diverse in both their profiles and their means. We must care as much about the small donor as the major benefactor, so that a true culture of giving can permeate all levels of society.

I also strongly believe that philanthropy is emancipatory: giving is a free act that allows individuals to transcend themselves.

I structured my proposals around three main pillars:

The need to clarify and stabilize the legal and regulatory framework for endowment and charitable foundations.
Since the creation of French foundations in 1987, eight different legal statuses have accumulated, making the system complex and fragmented.

The search for new sources of funding for generosity.
This includes revisiting inheritance laws — for example, easing the rules on forced heirship to allow donors greater freedom to bequeath to public-interest organizations. The parliamentary report also puts forward several ideas to expand major philanthropy in France, such as:

Including income taxed under the flat tax (PFU) in the 20% cap on “net taxable income” to incentivize large donations following business exits;

Allowing corporate holdings to benefit from corporate tax exemptions when donating to eligible nonprofit organizations;

Exempting capital gains taxes on securities transferred to a Public Utility Foundation;

Allowing company shareholders to allocate part or all of their distributable profits to public-interest organizations.

The promotion of a distinctly French model of philanthropy, one that is territorially rooted and dedicated to the public good.
This model should be built on the strength of local engagement. The emergence of territorial foundations must be actively supported to help this ecosystem grow from the ground up. Voir moins

A true vision for the future would involve, without withdrawing from globalization, developing a system that ensures greater corporate transparency and improved information flow.